Barclays
Under-21 Premier League |
Manchester United vs
Middlesbrough 1-0 Full
Match Goals &
Highlights -
First Half | 11
April 2016 |
Old Trafford |
Scorers: McNair 67
VIDEO Second Half: https://youtu.be/zxS2AiZbhs4
Manchester United took a huge stride towards retaining the Barclays Under-21 Premier League title with a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney played for an hour as planned and
Phil Jones came through the entire 90 minutes unscathed as
Warren Joyce's side took the points with
Paddy McNair's second-half winner.
A crowd of 6,132 saw the
Reds wear down stubborn opponents and, with
Tottenham beating
Sunderland, a victory at
White Hart Lane, live on
MUTV next Monday, or even two points from the last three games, will be enough to lift the trophy.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson drilled off target following a nice ball by
James Weir but
United looked a little sluggish from the outset and struggled to make any headway. Boro carved out the clearest early opening when Arnel Jakupovic shrugged off Ro-Shaun
Williams but fired too close to
Sam Johnstone, who saved with his foot.
The bright
Weir sent in a snap shot that was pushed away by
Joe Fryer and then forced the keeper to save at his near post after an inventive one-two with
Rooney.
Johnny Burn somehow escaped any punishment for a reckless tackle on
Joe Rothwell that led to the midfielder being forced off as the Teessiders defended with plenty of organisation and resilience.
United cleared their heads and finished the half in the ascendancy but McNair rifled a drive into the stands and
Devonte Redmond bent an effort into Fryer's arms. Weir was withdrawn at the break due to a minor injury and his vibrancy was missed, although Rooney sent a free-kick off target before making way for the fit-again
Axel Tuanzebe.
The third change led to a reshuffle with Tuanzebe at right-back,
Joe Riley playing as left-winger and
Andreas Pereira asked to perform up front.
Pereira looked the likeliest source of inspiration and, after teeing up
Donald Love for a powerful shot at Fryer, he supplied a 67th-minute cross from the right that was controlled by McNair inside the box and hammered home by the
Northern Ireland international.
Riley's diving header was blocked and there were few goalmouth incidents until the game burst into life in the last couple of minutes. Pereira unleashed a tremendous shot that bounced back off the bar, Callum Cooke flashed a long-ranger wide as Boro tried in vain to sneak a
point, while Pereira also worked Fryer from distance.
United are a point behind Sunderland in the table and the
Black Cats have finished their programme with the Reds also enjoying a superior goal
difference of six at present.
United:
Johnstone; Riley, Williams,
Jones, Borthwick-Jackson; McNair,
Love; Redmond, Rothwell, Weir (El Fitouri 46); Rooney (Tuanzebe 61).
Subs not used: J.Pereira,
Poole.
- published: 11 Apr 2016
- views: 273